Boat derrick



H. E. PLATT March 22, 1949.

BOAT DERRICVK Filed Dec. 19, 1947 ly laborious tasks.

Patented Mar. 22, 1.949

UNITED STATES; PATENT OFFICE BOAT DERRICK Harry E. Platt, Ottumwa, Iowa Application December 19, r1947, Serial No. 792,651 8 Claims. (Cl. 214-1) This invention is directed to boat derricks and more particularly to derricks for small boats used for fishing, etc.

Such small boats when not in use are kept partially nlled with water to prevent them from drying out so that the seams and joints will remain water tight. When such boats are to be used, it is necessary to bail them out or haul them up on the beach or on a dock to empty them by tilting and also to clean them, extrem-e-I When the boats are so beached or hauled onto docks, they are usually scratched and marred and are subjected to pinching effects which weaken the seams and joints thereof.

The principal object of this invention is to provide an improved boat derrick which may be mounted on a dock for raising and tilting a boat to empty Water therefrom and to clean the same, whereby the laborious tasks are eliminated and marring and scratching of the boat and pinching effects thereon are eliminated.

In carrying out this object of the invention, the improved boat derrick preferably includes a substantially vertical supporting column mounted on the dock, a substantially horizontal boom secured to the column and a cross bar on Athe other end of the boom. A cradle in the form of a exible loop is secured to the ends of lthe cross bar and is adapted to extend under the floating boat. A cable is connected to the exible loop, and a winch carried by the `column pulls the cable to raise the boat from the'water and at the same time tilts the boat to empty the same. The flexible loop follows the contour of the boat and eliminates the pinching effect, and since the boat is thus entirely suspended, marring and scratching of the boat is also eliminated. The laborious tasks of hailing or beaching or hauling are also overcome.

The flexible loop preferably takes the form of a chain, and preferably the chain and cross bar are provided with a protective covering, such as a rubber hose, further to prevent marring or scratching of the boat. In order that the cable pull may be more vertically directed, further to minimize a pinching effect, the upper end of the supporting column is preferably provided with a substantially horizontal arm provided with pulleys over which the cable extends.

The column may also be rotatably mounted on the dock so that the boat may be swung over the dock to facilitate cleaning and the making of repairs. The boom may be vertically and angularly positioned to adapt the derrick to docks of varying height and boats of varying size and shape.

The winch may be manually or power operated by a motor and, in the latter case, the motor may also operate a pump for supplying water to clean the boat. The pump may also be utilized for bailing the boat if it includes an excess of water.

Further objects of this invention reside in the details of construction of the boat derrck and in the cooperative relationship between the component parts thereof.

Other objects and advantages of this invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon reference to the accompanying specification, claims, and drawing, in which Figure 1 is an elevational view partly in section of the boat derrick of this invention;

Figure 2 is a perspective view of the boom and flexible loop attached thereto; and

Figure 3 is an enlarged sectional View taken substantially along the line 3 3 of Fig. 2.

The derrick for raising and tilting the boat I0 is generally designated at II. It includes a, substantially vertical column I2 which may be formed of steel plates welded together. The bottom of the column is provided with a ange disk I3 which is received by cleats I4 carried by a disk I5 which, in turn, is mounted on a dock or pier I6. The flange disk I3 and the cleats I4 hold the supporting column in vertical position but, at the same time, -permit rotation of the same.

The upper end of the column is provided with a substantially horizontal arm I8 which may also be formed of metal plates welded together. The arm I8 is secured to the column I2 preferably by welding and is reinforced by the gusset plate I9. The upper end of the column I2 and the outer end of the arm I8 are notched to receive pulleys 20 and 2| which are rotatably mounted on pins 22 and 23 respectively.

A substantially horizontal boom 25 is located adjacent the bottom of the column I2 and is pivotally mounted as at 26 to a bracket 2 slidably mounted for vertical movement on the column I2, The bracket 21 may be adjusted in any desired vertical position and clamped in the adjusted position by a cam or eccentric 28 carried by the bracket 21 and provided with an operating handle 29. By manipulating the handle 29, the bracket 21 may be elevated or lowered and clamped in the desired position.

The angular position of the boom 25 about its pivot 26 may be adjusted by a chain 55 secured 3 at one end to a lug 56 carried by the boom 25. The other end of the chain 55 may be adjustably anchored in a keyhole slot 51 formed in the column I2. Thus, by shortening or lengthening the chain 55 at the keyhole slot 51, the angular position of the boom may be adjusted.

The outer end of the boom 25 is secured, as by welding, to a cross bar 3D preferably in the form of a pipe. A bar 3| is located within the pipe 3D and extends a short distance beyond the ends of the pipe 30. A chain forming a exible loop has its ends linking the ends of the bar 3|, and the chain is held on the bar 3| by washers 33 and cotter pins 34. Preferably the cross bar and the chain forming the flexible loop are provided with a protective covering, such as a rubber hose. The rubber hose may be formed in several pieces or may include a single piece, as illustrated. It is found that the rubber hose has sufficient stretch or give to permit fastening the ends of the chain 32 to the bar 3| and, at the same time, provide adequate protection.

The chain intermediate its ends is connected by a link 31 to a ring 38 which, in turn, may be connected to a cable 33 extending over the pulleys 2| and 2|) to the drum 40 of a winch. The drum 4Q is provided with a ratchet Wheel 4| and is rotatably mounted on a bracket 42 carried by the column I2. A pawl 43 engaging the ratchet Wheel 4| normally prevents counter-rotation of the drum 4|. A'suitable crank 44 may be utilized for rotating the drum 4| to wind the cable thereon.

When the boat derrick is to be utilized, the vertical position and the angular position of the boom 25 are adjusted to adapt the derrick to the height of the dock and to the size and shape of the boat. Preferably, the boom 25 is so positioned that the cross bar thereof is positioned slightly above the Ygunwale of the boat. The cable 39 is relaxed so that the flexible loop is. suspended in the water. The boat is then floated over the suspended flexible loop to the desired position with respect to the boom 25. Thereafter, the `winch is operated and the boat is then raised and tilted to the position shown in Fig. i of the drawing. The water in the boat is thereby emptied and the boat is in position for ready scrubbing and cleaning. .If it is Vdesired to place the boat-on the pier or dock, all that is necessary is to rotate the column I2 whereby the boat is swung over the dock. The winch may be released and the boat placed fupon the dock. When it is desired to reoat the boat after emptying and/or cleaning, the Winch may be Vreleased and the boat will automatically be lowered and righted to the oating position. The lift of the cable is substantially vertical, and since the boat is carried by the flexible loop,

vpinching eifects on the boat are eliminated. Be-

cause of the flexible nature of the loop and the protective covering thereon, marring and scratching of lthe boat are also prevented.

The winch may be power operated in addition to or in lieu of manual operation by the crank 44. In this respect, the drum of the winch may be provided with a wheel 45 adapted to mesh with a wheel 46 .of a motor 4:1, such as an internal combustion motor. The motor 41 may be provided with a flange 48 'for slidably mounting the motor on a bracket 49 vcarried by the column l2. A gusset plate 5|) may be utilized for reinforcing the bracket 49. Suitable bolts 5| carried by the bracket 49 may extend through slots in the flange 4,8 of the motor 41 so that -the motor may be shifted back and forth toward the winch to engage or disengage the wheel 46 with the wheel 45. The bracket 49 may also carry a pump 52 provided with a wheel 53 adapted to be engaged and disengaged by the Wheel 46, and When the pump is operated, it may be utilized for pumping water for cleaning the boat or for bailing the boat. The pump, therefore, provides a very useful adjunct to the boat derrick.

If it be desired to utilize the derrick for lifting objects such as motors and so forth from the floating boat, the cable 39 may be disconnected from the ring 38 of the flexible loop and the cable 39 connected to the objects to be lifted. Manipulation of the winch will then lift the objects from the boat.

While for purposes of illustration one form of this invention has been disclosed, other forms thereof may become apparent to those skilled in the art, and, therefore, this invention is to be limited only by the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

' 1. A boat derrick for raising and tilting a boat comprising a substantially vertical supporting column, a substantially horizontal boom secured to the supporting column, a cross bar on the outer end of the boom, a flexible loop connected to the ends ofthe cross bar and adapted to extend under the boat, a cable connected to the flexible loop, and a winch on the column for the cable to raise and tilt the boat.

2. A boat derrick for raising and tilting a boat .comprising a substantially vertical supporting column, a substantially horizontal boom pivotally mounted on the supporting column, mechanism for adjusting the pivotal position of the boom, a cross bar on the outer end of the boom, a exible loop connected to the vends of the cross bar and adapted to extend under the boat, a cable connected tothe flexible loop, and a Winch on the column for `the cable to raise and tilt the boat.

3. A boat 'derrick for raising and tilting a boat comprising a substantially vertical supporting column, asubstantially horizontal boom, a pivotal connection between the boom and the column, mechanism for adjusting the pivotal connection vertically along the column, a cross bar on the outer end of the boom, a flexible loop connected to the ends of the cross bar and adapted to extend under the boat, a cable connected to the viexible loop, vand a Winch on the column for the cable to raise and tilt the boat.

4. A boat derrick for raising and tilting a boat comprising Va substantially vertical supporting column, a substantially horizontal boom, a pivotal yconnection between the boom and the column,

mechanism for adjusting the pivotal connection vertically along the column, mechanism for adjusting the pivotal position of the boom, a cross bar on the outer end of the boom, a flexible loop connected to the ends of the cross bar and adapted to extend under the boat, a cable connected to the exible loop, and a winch on the column for the cable to raise and tilt the boat.

5. Aboat derrick for raising and tilting a boat `comprising a substantially vertical supporting column, a substantially horizontal boom secured -to the supporting column, a cross bar on the outer end of the boom, a iiexible loop connected to the ends of the cross bar and adapted to extend under the boat, a cable connected to the exible loop, a, winch on the column for the cable 4,to raise and -tilt the boat, and mechanism for rotating the column.

nected to the Ilexible loop and extending over 10 the pulleys, and a Winch on the column for the cable to raise and tilt the boat.

7. A boat derrick for raising and tilting a boat comprising a substantially vertical supporting column, a. substantially horizontal boom secured to the supporting column, a cross bar on the outer end of the boom, a flexible loop connected to the ends of the cross bar and adapted to extend under the boat, a cable connected to the exible loop,

a winch on the column for the cable to raise and tilt the boat, apump on the column for cleaning the boat, a motor on the column, and means for connecting the motor to the Winch and the pump.

8. A boat derrick for raising and tiltingI a boat comprising a substantially Vertical supporting column, a. substantially horizontal boom secured to the supporting column, a cross bar on the outer end of the boom, a chain loop connected to the ends of the cross bar and adapted to extend under the boat, a protective covering for the cross bar and chain, a cable connected to the chain loop, and a Winch on the column for the cable to raise 15 and tilt the boat.

HARRY E. PLATT.

No references cited 

